Is Afari Gyan Too Old Now To Lead The EC?

“Afari-Gyan messes up again... C.I. 78 full of mistakes, Osei-Prempeh”; (Ghanaweb General News of Monday, 17 September 2012; Source: The Daily Searchlight).

Until this year, Dr Afari Gyan was the pride of every Ghanaian, irrespective of what party one supports. His past electoral records inspired many election observers, overseers, and analysts all over the world and gave the Ghanaian this wonderful sense of pride. This year, however, this “pride of Ghana” is fumbling with his work so much that one finds oneself tempted, if not compelled by circumstance, to ask whether it is old age that has rapidly caught up with him, and reduced the man who was Africa’s electoral gem to the laughing stock that he has become lately.

Apart from making avoidable mistakes in the simple preparation of the constitutional instrument that is expected to make the creation of the 45 constituencies duly formed, this “elderly man” has used a “horrible insult”, [which I dare not repeat here], on all Ghanaians who oppose him, for any reason, over the creation of the 45 constituencies. Individuals Dr Afari Gyan has insulted include religious and opinion leaders who are held in high esteem by Ghanaians. The use of insults by Dr Gyan on his critics has come at a time when several Ghanaians are calling on political parties to tone down the language they use, in order to ensure a calm political atmosphere.

Mr Kufuor, [who is also widely criticised for using an insult while talking about the issue], used his “foul language” on the process of the creation of the new constituencies, describing it as “not sensible”; rather than using his insult on those who created the new constituencies, or who are backing them. Dr Afari Gyan, on the other hand, used his insult on his critics, calling them “something too horrible to repeat”. Thus, while Kufuor could have done himself good by toning down the language he used, Dr Afari Gyan cannot be pardoned in any way, because he attacked the “persons” of those who opposed the creation.

How can a man who is heading the EC, [and who knows the importance of a peaceful atmosphere in the success of elections], use one of the worst insults any Ghanaian leader can use on his critics? Has Dr Afari Gyan become so old now that he does not know, and cannot differentiate what makes a good leader from what makes a bad one?

If old age is not to blame, then how can Dr Afari Gyan make the kind of legal mistakes he has been making, and then go on to insult his critics, most of who oppose him because of the timing of his new constituencies, rather than because of legal principles? Most of the critics who have been abused, individually and severally, by Dr Afari Gyan are simply criticising him because they feel that it is too close to election time for him to create new constituencies now, and let them be part of elections that are only two-to-three months away. They argue that his decision will lead to the kind of “rushing” that will make the election results in many constituencies challengeable.

Since Dr Afari Gyan is highly educated and should, thus, know his left from his right, it is clear that it is the “rushing of his actions” that has led him to make the mistakes that he has been making and which have already necessitated the withdrawal of two previous constitutional instruments, and may make the withdrawal of a third one possible; a situation that has made the Electoral Commission look either inefficient or questionable, with respect to the integrity of its boss; and rightly so too.

*If Dr Afari Gyan has grown too old now, and cannot lead the Electoral Commission to ensure peaceful elections in December, then he should resign now and give his position to a younger person at the EC to do the job. This nation cannot sacrifice peaceful elections for administrative incompetence arising from his geriatric condition, or arrogance, or both. Resignation, now, will save Dr Afari Gyan’s name and his reputation; and will also forestall any ill-consequences that can arise from the unnecessary rushing of things.

Otchere Darko. [Unaffiliated to any registered party in Ghana]